Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Health was very annoyed at how this was handled. Yesterday, there was a meeting between HSE officials and the management of St. John of God Community Services at which it was agreed that the current provision of services to pupils and families will remain in place until such time as these proposals are fully teased out or discussed and agreed with the HSE. Parents have to be involved here. St. John of God Community Services recently informed the HSE of its decision to restructure the boarding school element of St. Augustine's School, Blackrock, in line with projected need and the national disability policy of progressing children's disability services. They indicated their intention to close the boarding school service over a two-year period, as only two children remain as boarders and they will graduate during that period. The main area of concern for parents of St. Augustine's School, however, has been the proposed changes to the vocational training programme. It is important to emphasise that despite substantial investment by the Department of Education in services at St. Augustine's in recent years, the HSE has not reduced funding to St. John of God Community Services for St. Augustine's School.

Officials were briefed by the management team of St. John of God Community Services on Monday, 20 June. At that meeting, as I said to the Deputy, it was agreed status quowould pertain. No changes will be made to funding or services without being formally submitted, discussed and agreed by the HSE. The HSE is reassuring parents that it will continue to work in partnership with the parents, the Department of Education and St. John of God Community Services in order to find the best possible solution for both young people with disabilities and their families. The Minister has made the point that parents need to be involved in this.

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